Those who suffer patiently and in a Christian manner glorify God, for they reveal God’s power in themselves. Trust and Dare March 31; MT 3

Munich, Germany

1950 Tenth General Chapter opened in Munich.

For the Christian who suffers, the suffering is extremely fruitful. Trust and Dare March 30; MT 3

Generalate grounds

Let us rejoice if the Lord judges us worthy to suffer persecution for his name’s sake, because he has promised a great reward in heaven to those who do.  Trust and Dare March 29; MT 4760

The Lord loves us, because he afflicts us with suffering on all sides and plants his precious cross in our houses.  Trust and Dare March 28; MT 408

From a painting commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Congregation

1882  Helene (Adelaide) Vanda died of a prolonged lung disease at the age of 34.  In 1855, Mother Theresa had accepted the invitation of a missionary priest in Cairo, who was attempting to save girls from a life of slavery by "purchasing" them and transporting them to Germany and asking women religious to care for and educate them. Unfortunately, many of these African girls died from tuberculosis. One young woman, Helene (Adelaide) Vanda, survived to adulthood and stayed with the SSNDs for the rest of her life. 

We are committed to profess our Jesus, and there is no better way than through patient suffering. Trust and Dare March 27; MT 3

Generalate Chapel, Rome, Italy

As it was necessary that Christ suffer so much in order to enter into his glory, it is also necessary that those who follow him . . . enter into eternal glory in the same way. Trust and Dare March 26; MT 5325

Amberg, Germany; artist - Peter Kuschell, 1988

1834 Bishop Francis Schwäbl approved the religious association in Neunburg vorm Wald and confirmed Caroline Gerhardinger as superior.

 

Sculpture of Mother Theresa in the garden in Amberg Germany, created by Peter Kuschell  1988

As a devout daughter of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I do not want to dominate, but to serve the Lord and to remain with Mary at the crib and under the cross.  Trust and Dare March 25; MT 29

Annunciation of the Lord
Artist: S. Mary Ann Osborne (CP)

1986  You Are Sent, the Constitution of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, was approved.

To suffer in silence and to pray strikes all our foes dumb, because God does not let anyone be put to shame who places trust in him.  Trust and Dare March 24; MT 2067

1848: The second SSND missionary group arrived in Baltimore from Germany.

 

Only in suffering does one treasure and feel what a great comfort it is to have found a good friend. Trust and Dare March 23; MT 2607

Mother Theresa with first convent

1834 At an audience with King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Caroline Gerhardinger received the document approving the foundation at Neunburg and thereby freeing the money which Father Job had promised to the community.

 

Christians who suffer patiently for the sake of Jesus show through this trial by fire their faith, hope, and love for him. Trust and Dare March 22; MT 3

World Water Day

The Lord inflicts wounds and heals them again.  He sends suffering and the cross to those he loves, so that he may reward them more abundantly in the next world.   Trust and Dare March 21; MT 3634

Linden wood, copper cross; artist S. Mary Ann Osborne (CP)

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

All of us have sufficient reason to humble ourselves because of our past sins and imperfections. Trust and Dare March 20; MT 714

Artist: S. Jo Nemec, SSND

 

1880 Pope Leo XIII approved the establishment of the Commissariat for North America. 

Among external works of penance, the first is the faithful fulfillment of the duties of our vocation. Trust and Dare March 19; MT 2780

St. Augustine (Wiki - public domain)

1957 Porto Alegre (Brazil) established as a province. On December 8, 2012 it became part of the newly formed Province of Latin America and the Caribbean(ALC).

1935 The Congregation has it roots in the teaching of St. Augustine. Mother M. Almeda formalized the relationship with the Augustinians. On March 25, Father James Garcia representing the Augustinians wrote: "To all our beloved Sisters in Christ of the Congregation of the Poor School Sisters of Note Dame, who are living and those of the future, will be numbered among the members of the Order of Saint Augustine." 

Prayer and fasting are two wings on which our hearts soar to God.  Trust and Dare March 18; MT 2780

Sagrada Familia - Forquilhina, Brazil

1858 M. Margaret of Cortona Wiedemann and companion arrived in Rome to work for the approval of the Rule.

1983 The miracle process for the cause of Mother Theresa concluded in Brazil.

Through lifelong penance we prepare for ourselves a peaceful and blessed death, a merciful judgment, a joyful resurrection, and a blissful eternity.  Trust and Dare March 17; MT 714

Japanese peace garden - Santa Maria in Ripa

To want to be a religious and not do penance - is nonsense.  Trust and Dare March 16; MT 714

 

O Jesus, what kind of love for you would it be, you who are worthy of all love, if it did not make all sacrifices! Trust and Dare March 15; MT 2

We often read the life of Jesus.  His was a life full of voluntary, painful penance.  He, our divine bridegroom, is covered with wounds, crowned with thorns, abused, derided, spat upon, torn by scourges, treated worse than malefactors and murderers, and crucified - and do we sinners want to be his spouses, to be glorified with him in heaven, to triumph at his side, while here on earth not hearing of penance or practicing it? Trust and Dare, March 14; 714

Generalate Chapel

Rome, Italy

Through penance we obtain for ourselves peaceful and refreshing sleep, we cure many illnesses, strengthen our health, and prolong our life.  Trust and Dare March 13; MT 714

Generalate Chapel
Rome, Italy

Penance is the salt with which we mortify vice and bring all virtues to life within us.  It strengthens our spirit marvelously and procures for us heavenly consolations.  Penance is the wall around chastity and the citadel of sanctity.  Penance makes us invincible.  Trust and Dare March 12; MT 714 

Jesus, Mary, our dear mother, and all the saints lead us on the way of penance and suffering.  Let us follow them.  This way lasts only a short time and wins for us an everlasting, precious prize!  Trust and Dare  March 11; MT 714

The Pietà – St. Peter’s Basilica

1940 M. Stanislaus Kostka Schilling, 5^th Commissary General, died. During and after World War I she worked to maintain unity with the Sisters in Europe.  After the war and during the Great Depression, she oversaw the relocation of Mount Mary University to its current site in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

To talk about self-renunciation and to really practice it are certainly not the same thing; to hear about a virtue and to exercise and possess it are not the same either.  Trust and Dare March 10; MT 2

1834 From Vienna, Caroline Gerhardinger petitioned King Ludwig I of Bavaria for government approval of the new Congregation.

Renunciation does not mean following one’s own will, but following God’s holy will, even though we find the latter very hard.   Trust & and Dare March 9; MT 2

St. Peter Fourier

1617: The Church approved the first (or small) constitution of the Canonesses of St. Augustine. Together with St. Peter Fourier, they sought to establish schools that would provide free education to all girls. The Canonesses of St. Augustine laid the foundation on which Mother Theresa built the School Sisters of Notre Dame. 

Would to God that we might have an occasional hour of night adoration, which strengthens better than several hours of sleep, as Bishop Wittmann of blessed memory taught us.  Our difficult profession and also the times in which we live require it. Trust and Dare March 8; MT 445

Generalate chapel

International Women's Day

1833 Bishop George Michael Wittmann died on this day in Regensburg. Bishop Wittmann’s last words: The new institute (the congregation) “is no human thing - it is God’s work.”

Childlike love and fear of God ought to be the foundation of our self-renunciation. Trust and Dare March 7; MT 2

How the shepherd rejoices over the lamb that was found again! Trust and Dare March 6; MT 29

Jesus is, indeed, a precise, perfect teacher, but also a patient one. He demands self-renunciation . . . not all at once, but step by step. Trust and Dare March 5; MT 2

Photo by S. Inês Camiran

"Do penance!" exclaimed the Lord Jesus loudly before all the world right at the beginning of his teaching career. "The kingdom of God is at hand." Yes, O Jesus, you spoke the truth! Without penance your kingdom does not come to us. Trust and Dare March 4; MT. 714

Generalate chapel

Without battle, no victory; without victory, no crown.  Trust and Dare March 3; MT 714

                                                         

 

World Wildlife Day

Everything good must be fiercely struggled and fought for, but  precisely by this struggle it proves itself the work of God.  Trust and Dare March 2; MT 1754

Bishop Michael Wittman, 1763 - 1833

1833 Caroline Gerhardinger and Father Mathias Siegert journeyed to Neunburg to negotiate the foundation there; the dying Bishop Michael Wittmann spoke of his vision of the Congregation.

Those who want to erect a building must, first of all, clear the ground of all rubble and brush, then dig a foundation - the higher the building, the deeper, then begin to build and bring it to completion.  Trust and Dare March 1: NT 2941

Photo by S. Inês Camiran